Further Education and Skills

Education Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 29 Jan 2025 Closed: 30 Jan 2026 Parliament page
The further education sector is currently navigating a series of reforms and challenges. In this inquiry the Education Committee will explore these issues and other pressures currently facing the further education sector, including the pay gap between school and college teachers, maths and English GCSE resits, students’ mental health. Read … Read more
36 Recommendations
32 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
3 Feb
2026
Correspondence
9 Dec
2025
Report published
23 Sep
2025
Report published
24 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
24 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
3 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
3 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
23 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
23 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
25 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
25 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
24 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
Further Education and Skills
Julia Kinniburgh · Department for Education The Rt Hon. the Baroness Smith of Malvern · Department for Education
3 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
Further Education and Skills
Clare Howard · Natspec David Gaughan · West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Denise Rawls · The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) Dr Emily Tanner · Nuffield Foundation Dr Fiona Aldridge · The Skills Federation Dr Susan Pember CBE · HOLEX Jane Gratton · British Chambers of Commerce Qasim Hussain · National Union of Students
23 Apr 2025
View on parliament.uk
Further Education and Skills
Ben Rowland · Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) Dr Katerina Kolyva · Education and Training Foundation (ETF) Emily Rock · Association of Apprentices Jane Hadfield · NHS England Phil Smith CBE · Skills England Sarah Maclean CBE · Skills England Sir David Bell · Skills England Tessa Griffiths CBE · Skills England
25 Mar 2025
View on parliament.uk
Further Education and Skills
Alice Gardner · Edge Foundation Bill Watkin CBE · Sixth Form Colleges Association Darren Hankey · Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) David Hughes CBE · Association of Colleges David Robinson · Education Policy Institute Jo Grady · University College Union (UCU) Mr Imran Tahir · Institute for Fiscal Studies Robert Nitsch CBE · Federation of Awarding Bodies
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Further Education and Skills HC 666 23 Sep 2025 68 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Accepted in Part
6th Report - Further Education and…
Skills England faces challenges with data collection, levy system, and programme communication.
Skills England has been broadly welcomed by the further education and skills sectors. We agree with the Government’s priorities for Skills England, including identifying national and local skills needs, simplifying access to training, and collaborating with employers and training providers … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the need to strengthen data collection, detailing ongoing work like mapping training pathways, developing a new skills classification, and exploring leveraging private data. Regarding the levy, it outlines existing support for SMEs and commits to ensuring the new growth and skills offer continues to support SMEs in accessing apprenticeships.
Department for Education
View details
7 Conclusion Accepted in Part
6th Report - Further Education and…
Enhance Skills England data collection, reform levy system, and provide clear programme communication.
To meet its priorities, Skills England must within a year of becoming fully operational—by June 2026—enhance data collection and sharing through a centralised platform that tracks skills gaps and training outcomes. Within two years—by June 2027—Skills England should deliver reform … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the need to enhance data, detailing ongoing work like mapping training pathways and developing a new skills taxonomy. For the levy system, it describes the ongoing transformation of the apprenticeships offer and commits to ensuring it supports SMEs, without explicitly committing to the specific deadlines or scope of the recommended reform.
Department for Education
View details
21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
6th Report - Further Education and…
T Level programmes face significant challenges impacting student retention, satisfaction, and public awareness.
T Levels are a relatively new programme of study, and they should be given adequate time to develop and gain traction. However, if T Levels are to become the “gold-standard technical qualification” the Government must urgently address a number of … Read more
Government Response
The government states its commitment to expanding T Level uptake, improving retention, and raising awareness through campaigns and ambassadors, citing positive outcomes and pass rates for T Levels.
Department for Education
View details
22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
6th Report - Further Education and…
Launch a national awareness campaign for T Levels and overhaul the transition programme.
We recommend that the Department for Education launches a national awareness campaign for T Levels, targeting students, parents and employers. The purpose and benefits of T Levels should be set out clearly from secondary school stage onwards. Parity of esteem … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to expanding T Level uptake, improving retention, and raising awareness through campaigns and ambassadors, while highlighting strong outcomes and student satisfaction with workplace preparation.
Department for Education
View details
55 Recommendation Accepted in Part
6th Report - Further Education and…
Increase per-student funding across all post-16 streams, adjusted for inflation and student numbers.
It is crucial that the Government increases per-student funding across all post-16 funding streams, based on a detailed assessment of need. We welcome the Chancellor’s pledge of £1.2 billion a year for the further education sector, which will see the … Read more
Government Response
The government commits £8.5 billion for 16-19 programme funding in 2025/26, including an additional £400 million this year and nearly £800 million extra planned for 2026/27. It does not explicitly state that funding will be adjusted annually for inflation or student numbers.
Department for Education
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 68 of 36 classified
Accepted 21
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 20
Rejected 12
Total 36 recs + 32 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
3 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from Minister for Skills on Further Education ITE Reform, dated 26.01.26
Parliament page